Dear Editor:
On Friday evening, Jan. 31, during halftime of the Noblesville and Hamilton Southeastern basketball game, the Athletics Department on Noblesville High School held its Induction Ceremony for the Noblesville Sports Hall of Fame. I was privileged and humbled to be part of that class. The inductees were Terry Coomer, Betty Heppner, Krissi Meek, Matt Sparks and the 2014 Baseball State Champions.
My wife Kim and I are 1973 graduates of Noblesville High School. We want to thank Assistant Athletic Director, Tony Oilar, and Noblesville High School for all their kindness to us. What a wonderful ceremony!
As I stood out on the floor my mind went back in time to younger days. I thought of several people who helped me as a young boy, coaches Jim Gilliam, Eddie Collins, Ron Fleming, Don Jellison, Phil Shelby, Jim Belden, and Don Dunker. Noblesville has had many great athletes, support people, and great coaches who have made it possible for athletes to do great things. I am also thankful for Southside Park where I first learned to throw a baseball and many hours playing against the older boys who taught me a lot. Also, for Forest Park where the summers and many hours were also spent playing with many teammates which in 1972 culminated in a group of young men from Noblesville winning the 1972 Advanced Babe Ruth Indiana State Championship. We also represented Noblesville in a seven-state champion playoff in Alpena, Mich., where we defeated the Kentucky State Champion. I want to thank my teammates for all the great memories and all our successes. You guys were always great!
It has been a while since we have been “home.” We had a great time reconnecting with classmates, teachers, and friends. Kim and I were glad to see classmates, Jan Brandenburg, Amy Griffin, Rand Woodward and Jeff Zeckel who came out to support the inductees.
Tony Oilar did a wonderful job in coordinating and the plaques were very impressive. I am glad my plaque will be hanging in the “Hall of Fame” for years to come and maybe will be an encouragement to other students in a small way to do well.
While I live far away in Arkansas, I will always be a Miller and Kim and I are so very thankful to have grown up in Noblesville and educated in Noblesville schools.
Kim and I appreciate our friend and classmate former State Representative Kathy Richardson for presenting my Hall of Fame plaque to me. I will always cherish the moment and Kathy’s friendship with Kim and me.
My only regret was my two mentors, former Noblesville High School Baseball Coach Don Dunker and friend of 50 years, Babe Ruth baseball coach, and iconic sports writer Don Jellison were not here to see it, but I am sure they were looking down and smiling upon it!
Again, thank you Noblesville High School, it meant a lot to us. It was a beautiful evening!
Dr. Terry Coomer
Little Rock, Ark.